Nevada County offers low-income homebuyers down payment assistance

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​Nevada County’s Health and Human Services Agency division of Housing and Community Services has funding available for down-payment assistance for about four low-income potential homebuyers.

The First-time Homebuyers HOME Loan Program can provide gap assistance for qualifying individuals and families. Gap assistance enables potential homeowners to borrow part of their down payment and/or closing costs from Nevada County through the HOME Loan Program. To qualify, applicants must meet the requirements noted below:

— Be a first-time homebuyer, which is defined as an individual who has not owned a principal residence during the three years prior to the purchase of the home being bought with the down payment assistance loan.

— The home being bought cannot exceed the purchase price of $246,000.

— The home being purchased must be located in the unincorporated areas of Nevada County.

— Meet the program income eligibility requirements, based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development standards, developed for Nevada County by household size and income.

​Under the new federal health-care law, there are only a couple of weeks to go before open enrollment ends. The Affordable Care Act requires most people to have health insurance by March 31. As of Jan. 31, more than 1.6 million Californians have signed up for either Covered California health insurance plans or low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. In Nevada County alone, more than 2,300 residents have signed up for no-cost Medi-Cal through the expanded Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medi-Cal program to receive free health care coverage that meets federal health-care law guidelines.

Those signing up for Covered California health care plans may also be eligible for a new tax credit that helps them afford health coverage purchased through the Covered California Marketplace. Those who qualify may choose how much advance credit payments to apply toward their premiums each month, up to a maximum amount.

The open enrollment deadline to apply for the Covered California health insurance and advance premium tax credit is fast approaching The final date to enroll is March 31. Once open enrollment ends, people will not be able to sign up for these programs until October 2014, in order for health coverage to begin in 2015. Medi-Cal can be applied for at any time.

Learn more about affordable health plans that are available by visiting Covered California’s website at www.coveredca.com or by calling 800-300-1506, TTY: 888-889-4500. It is also possible to apply through the Nevada County Department of Social Services at www.C4Yourself.com, by calling (530) 265-1340 or by visiting the local office at 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City.

LaMalfa’s representative to hold satellite office

​Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s field representative, Jennifer Horne, will be available at a satellite office in the Northstar Conference Room, in the county executive office in the Rood Government Center from 8 to 11 a.m Tuesday.